Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year

Students will: Understand the symbolism of the dragon in Chinese culture and its role in New Year celebrations. Become familiar with a popular origin myth about the Chinese New Year. Discover the function of firecrackers during the New Year parade. Learn about the appearance and characteristics of the Chinese lion and its role in the New Year celebrations.

More about this lesson plan:

Materials Needed: Internet access, resources from EDSITEment, The Runaway Rice Cake by Ying Chang Compestine and Tungwai Chau, Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn, Cornelius Van Wright, and Ying-Hwa Hu, Happy, Happy Chinese New Year! by Demi, Long-Long’s New Year: A Story About the Chinese Spring festival by Catherine Gower, He Zhihong, Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin, The Dancing Dragon by Marcia K. Vaughan and Stanley Wong Hoo Foon, This Next New Year by Janet S. Wong and Yangsook Choi (books).